Tag Archives: Pet

Not only does your neighbor George bear a striking resemblance to his bulldog Barry, but chances are, their resemblance is more than skin deep. Turns out that pet owners may also share their dogs’ personalities, according to new research.

Researchers from Bath Spa University in England surveyed 1,000 dog owners to determine their personality types. Based on their answers, pet owners were categorized into one or more of these five personality types: extroverted, agreeable, conscientious, emotionally stable, and intelligent and creative.

Researchers then drew connections between owners’ personality types and what kind of dog they owned. (Does your dog never listen to you? It’s probably not his personality—it’s how he’s been trained.

Here’s what your dog’s breed may be saying about your personality:

1. Toy dogs(Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Poodles, and Pugs): Though Chihuahua-toting Hollywood starlets may not be the first group you’d think of as being the sharpest crayons in the box, people who own toy dogs are more likely to be intelligent. They also earn high marks for being creative. (Boost your already high brain power with these free brain games that make you smarter.)

3. Gun dogs(Irish Setters, Golden Retrievers, and Spaniels): You and your pooch are happy watching a movie, taking a walk, and really just doing whatever the day dictates—it doesn’t get more agreeable than gun dog owners.

4. Utility dogs(Dalmatians, Bulldogs, and Bishon Frises): The fact that George never fails to scoop up Barry’s poop isn’t a mere coincidence: People with utility dogs come out on top for being conscientious. (Just don’t forget about yourself when you’re always caring for others.

5. Terriers(Jack Russells, Carin Terriers, and Miniature Schnauzers): Now don’t take this the wrong way, but owners of terriers were shown to be—how can we put this delicately—rather low on the emotional stability scale. On the plus side, you’ve got a super-cute companion to help you through any funks.

6. Working dogs (Boxers, Rottweilers, and Great Danes):
Anyone with a Great Dane as a roommate would have to be easygoing and clever to make things work without getting claustrophobic. Not surprisingly, working dog owners are agreeable and intelligent.

7. Hounds(Beagles, Basset Hounds, Greyhounds, and Dachshunds):
Even if you ain’t nothing but a hound dog, good news: Hound dog owners are emotionally stable.

The connection between an owner’s personality and the type of pooch she owns may be due to the simple fact that certain personality types are more attracted to certain breeds, says study author Lance Workman. Regardless, the next time you feel like no one understands you, look no further than your four-legged pal: S/He totally gets you.

So often we’re sabotaging ourselves by being in our own way without even knowing we’re doing so.

When you find yourself facing obstacles that appear to be blocking you from your goals, it’s important to try not to get discouraged. It can be easy to feel “stuck” or that “life” is creating circumstances preventing you from getting what you want. And, while it’s easy to look at everyone & everything outside of ourselves for the problem, perhaps even wanting to “get rid” of the person, object, or circumstance we may feel is blocking us, sometimes the best course of action to take may be to look inside ourselves first.

It is amazing how often we can get in our own way without even being aware we’re doing so. Even though we truly want to succeed, there are many reasons why we may sometimes block our own efforts. It may be that we’re afraid to succeed, so we subconsciously create circumstances to keep ourselves stuck. Or it may even be that we are afraid that we will succeed, so we block ourselves by making the achievement of our goals more difficult than they really are. We may even approach our goals in a way that keeps creating the same unsuccessful results.

If you think you’ve been standing in your own way, you may want to take a piece of paper & record how you’ve done this. Write down the choices you’ve made that have hindered your efforts and the fears that may have prompted you to make these decisions. Take note of any thoughts & feelings that arise. It’s important to be gentle & compassionate during this process. And, do yourself a favor and try not to blame yourself for getting in your own way.

Remember, the choices we make are always there to serve us, until it’s time to let them go. When you’re finished, throw the paper away while setting an intention that you’re getting rid of any obstacles you’ve created to block yourself. You can then let yourself start again with a clean slate. Doubts & fears are going to be natural, but with this new awareness, you should be able to prevent yourself from subconsciously thwarting yourself. Besides, now that you’ve decided to get out of your own way, the part of you that has always wanted to succeed can now do so.

You’d be surprised how this little exercise will help to cleanse your pallet & give you the opportunity to start anew. Righting this self-destructive behavior can cost a lot of money if it’s done by way of the therapy route. However, an alternative could be to begin a D.I.Y. home project. As you begin to grow from this experience, you’ll get a double-treat: watching the projects you tackle literally visually transform along with you! It’s a win-win scenario. And, whatever you do, please don’t even think about eating any pet you’ve named – that’s just bad form. Enjoy your long weekend.

When dealing with people who seem very unaware, remember everyone must find their own way to awakening.

You may be someone who understands the true nature of reality, perceiving deeply that we all emanate from the same source, that we’re all essentially one & that we’re here on earth to love one another. To understand this is to be awakened to the true nature of the self & it is a blessing. Nevertheless, people who just don’t get it are seemingly everywhere and, often, in positions of power. It can be frustrating & painful to watch them behave unconsciously. We all encounter individuals of this bent in our families, at work & in all areas of public life. It’s easy to find ourselves feeling intolerant of these people, wishing we could be free of them, even though we know separation from them is an illusion.

Sometimes, it helps to think of all of us as different parts of one psyche. Just as within our own hearts & minds, we have dark places in need of healing, the heart & mind of the world has its dark places. The health of the whole organism depends upon the relative health of the individuals within it. We increase harmony when we hold onto the light, not allowing it to be darkened by judgment, anger & fear about those who behave unconsciously. It’s easier to accomplish this if we don’t focus on the negative qualities of individuals, instead focusing on how increasing our own light will increase the light of the overall picture.
When dealing with people who seem very unconscious, it helps to remember every one must find their own way to awakening & that the experiences they’re having are an essential part of their process. Holding them in the light of our own energy may be the best way to awaken theirs. At the same time, we’re inspired by their example to look within and shed light on our own unconscious places, sacrificing the urge to judge and surrendering instead to humble self-inquiry. When all else fails, we have our furry friends to call upon for unconditional love & acceptance. Enjoy your weekend, remembering to make every moment count.

Good friends enrich our lives in so many ways. Through a magical combination of similarities & differences, friends offer us the opportunity to know ourselves as we are & help us grow into who we want to be. Our similarities attract us to one another, comforting us with familiarity when we see ourselves in them. When we’re drawn to those we admire, the same recognition’s at work, unconsciously acknowledging these people possess qualities we ourselves possess. By acting as mirrors, friends help us define who we are by reflecting ourselves back to us.

Friends also help us know ourselves through our differences. Differences allow us to see other options & make choices about who we want to be. Sometimes we’re drawn to those who appear to be our opposites & we learn to accept the parts of them we love and the parts of them that don’t resonate with us, thus allowing us a valuable learning experience. By expanding our understanding to include others’ experiences, friends help us accept others. By understanding when someone’s life differs from our own, we can learn about ourselves in contrast. There are times when we see in friends what we don’t like about ourselves. That mirror reflection may be hard to take, but a good friend helps us find ways we can change & supports us in that choice.

Part of the joy of friendship is the feeling we’re accepted just the way we are, with no need to change. It’s a gift they give us & one we can give back every day. Ultimately, we choose friends because they make us feel good about ourselves & life. Through tears and difficulties, friends help us find the laughter. When we find those special people who offer us that perfect combination of comfort & stimulus to grow, we’re very fortunate. Friends – the winged, four and two-legged varieties are those wonderful companions who walk with us through life, help us define & refine who we are and who we choose to be every day.

Happy Furry Friday! You may be keenly aware of what you want today and not at all hesitant about trying to get it. You may find your usually compromising nature may transition to one of intense willfulness. You may be so determined to get what you want, you could find yourself in the middle of multiple negotiations with others. Though your resolve is firm, you may have more luck in convincing others to see your point of view by first taking stock of your mind-set, the situation, and the needs of the people surrounding you. Consider that a forceful attitude may be less effective than a calm tone and a willingness to explore other points of view. Look at each new situation individually in order to logically determine how best to proceed.

Knowing yourself and what you want can make you a more effective negotiator. Often, we approach debates or disagreements – even with ourselves – in an emotional way, letting what we feel overshadow the point we’re trying to convey. Having a sense of where you stand on an issue before engaging in debate will help you determine how you can best approach negotiations. Different situations may call for different tactics, and it often serves us best to be logical rather than becoming too emotional when we engage in bargaining. Know what you want before you begin negotiating for it, and you’ll likely end up on the winner’s side. Enjoy your weekend!

There was a monk who was very impatient. You may wonder, why would a monk be impatient? Don’t they become monks so that they don’t have to deal with the world? Yes, that’s true. So imagine how impatient this monk was…

The more he tried, the more impatient he became, so he decided that he must get away altogether, to learn to be patient. So he built himself a little home deep in the woods, far away from civilization.

Years later, a man was traveling in those woods and met him. The man was amazed to find anyone living so far away from the rest of the world, so he asked the monk why he was there all by himself.

The monk said that he was there to learn to be patient.

The traveler asked how long he had been there, and the monk replied: seven ( 7 ) years.

Stunned, the traveler asked, “If there is no one around to bother you, how will you know when you are patient?”

Annoyed, the monk replied, “Get away from me, I have no time for you.”

How many people get into arguments that literally break up relationships – over petty stuff! One word leads to another and before they know it, it’s ten years later and they have no idea of why they lost touch. If they backtrack, they realize that it all started over something so insignificant that they’re too embarrassed to admit or disclose it.

So, even at the risk of looking ridiculous, the next time you’re about to lose your sovereignty over your mind and your body, remember the monk, or, cats.

While you’re laughing, explain why. The next thing you know, you’ll both be laughing, and then – you’ll both be able to really talk and listen.